Ambulance.



I. HQ RUSSELL.

AMBULANGE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 21h 1907.

Patented Jan. 26. 1909L 5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

v -INI/ENTOR gwn m hf 21V iforney I. H. RUSSELL.

AMBULANCE.

APPLIGATION FILED MAY 28.1907.

v Patented J an. 26. 1909.

5 SHBBTSLSHEBT a.

NVENTOR Mmmm I. H. RUSSELL.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

I f/WNTo/e Cg'vcme. K ,KW/.5 d2, Taf/f my@ Patented Jan. 2e, 1999.

l narnnr onirica.

IRUN H. RUSSELL, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

AMBULANCE.

Application filed May 28,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 26, 1909. 1907. Serial N0. 376,173.

.T0 all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, IRoNn H. RUSSELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ambulances; and I do hereby declare the following to be a fell, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My present invention pertains to the class of ambulances or wheeled litters, for use in I the handling of Y the sick and injured. A It has for its object in part, the supplying of an el'icicnt wheeled transport andone in A, which the wheels can be easily and readily deframes in position.

V to

for "which maybe of canvas or any other pretached when it is desired vto use the same as a hand litter.

'Ihe other objects of' my invention will readily appear from the accompanying drawings in which the best form in which I have contemplated embodying my invention is illustrated, and from the following description and claims in which my said invention is disclosed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of my improved ambulance or wheeled litter.' Fig. 2 is a top or plan view. Fig. 3 is a transversesectional view. Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are views of details of construction. Fig. 7 is a top or plan view of the stretcher trame, with patient sipporting and holding attachments. Fig. 8 is a view of the device with the wheels in their highest position. Fig. 9 is a viewrv of one of the clamps for attaching the wheels to the frame. Fig. l() is a view showing vmeans forholding screen Fig. 11 is a detail showing method of attaching the supporting and retaining bands to the bottom of the stretcher, and Fig. 12 is a side view of padded shoulder stra 'Ilie main body of my litter consists of the frame Awhich is shown as constructed of tubular materials. It is preferably made as ligb t as is consistent with the requirements of rigidity and strength, but I do not limit myself to a metallic or tubular material.

Within the frame A is a iexible support B the body of' the sick or injured person,

ferred material and this is secured to the frame in the manner'that the user or users may choose'or refer. I his srpport does not extend the tu. length of. the frame.' A but at the ends is secured to cross pieces After',

{ leaving a space between such cross pieces and the curved frame ends to'perrnit the latter to be grasped by attendants to guide or carry l the litter.

gj In order to provide a wheeled support for f the litter or stretcher when it is desired, I provide the hinged brackets or clamps a c that can be securely clamped to the side frame bars at the points indicated in the drawings. In this instance, they are shown as bein thus secured by the clamping bolts a o', but other clamping means may be employed if preferred. To these brackets are secured all the parts of the wheeled support. The inner part of each bracket is provided with the two downwardly extending ears a2 a3. To each ofthe ears a3 at one end of the frame is pivoted an arm C that extends towards the center of the frame and has its opposite end rigidly secured to a bracket I). In these brackets is mounted the axle E. The axle may have the wheels F rigidly secured thereto and the axle jonrnaled in the brackets I), or the axle may be ri idly secured in the brackets and the whee s made to revolve thereon as may be preferred.

To the ears a3 at the opposite end of the frame are pivoted arms C which are each composed of two parts c c', pivoted together at c2. The shorter member 1s pivoted to the bracket D at d.

rIlle-brackets D have each an u wardly extending ear d to which is ivot the elbow releasing lever G. To tiie shorter arm of this lever is pivoted the stirrnp g, the bi furcated ends of which extend downward upon each side of the arm C and through these ends pass the pivot c2. '.lhis joint at c2 can be made to bend downward but not upward.

In the ears o2 ateach end of the frame is pivoted a shaft or rod H, to which are secured two legs or snp Orts h h, and springs h h are secured to the s att-in such manner that such into and maintain them in a vertical osition.' To each of said legs 7L at a point a s ort disltance from the shaft H is pivoted a linktz. 'I he two links at one side of the frame extend downwardly in an inclined direction beneath the axle E and have their opposite ends pivotally connected at d2. Vl hen the axle 1s in the sition shown in irll lines in Fig. l the dycwrrward rassure of the axle upon the links k2 draw t e legs inward. to the folded position shown in the same gure. Ithen springs will tend to move the said legs kk' struction.

the levers G are raised and th`e arms C are bent or'iiexed downwardly, the weight of the frame A, and whatever load may be supported thereby, will cause the frame to move downwardly towards the axle. As the springs 7L h tend always to throw the legs outwardly, the legs will be moved outwardly toward a vertical position as fastas the links h2 will permit, so that by the time the frame reaches its lowest position, the legs will be in position to engage the ground and sustain the entire weight of the device and its load. The wheels will be relieved from all weight which will be transferred to the sup` ortmg legs. In place` of the links h2 h2, the egs on one side ot the axle might be connected with the legs on the other side by cords or chains. The links are, however, my preferred con- In this osition, which is shown in Fig. 8, the ambu ance or litterwill stand firmly and without any care whatever, to receive its load or to have it removed therefrom. As soon as thiso eration is concluded, the levers will be broug t downward and the weight of the frame and its load transferred to the wheels brin ing the parts into the osition shown in ful lines in Fig. 1, in w ich position it is ready to be pushed or drawn to the point desired. VV hen in the position shown in Fig.,1, the levers are held by hooks g. The moving of the stretcher frame up ward will cause the links to 4draw the legs into their folded position. There may be cases in which it will be desired to hold the body upon the stretcher from moving or being jarred from the canvas within the frame, or itmay be desired to retain the body of the patient, or of the limbs of the same in certain positions. To secure these ends, I employ certain constructions which will now be described.

' mounted upon the said bars.

Along the outer edges of the canvas or flexible supporting material ,are secured strips b b. several inches in width. The inner corners of these strips are provided with shortv hooks (not shown). At the outer ends of the bars A A', sleeves a4 are movably These sleeves are Akept in proper position upon the bars by pins 0.5 a5 and the said sleeves are provided with shoulders a, that will engage the said pins and the sleeves will be held from further movement. Each of the said slcevesis provided with two ears a7 a7 between which are pivoted the short arms b3 b3 having at their outer ends a ring or loop b4. i When it is desired to utilize the securing strips l) b these arms are turned up to the positlon shown in Fig. 5, and the hooks of the adjacent 'corners of the strips b b are hooked into the ring or loo b4 of the arms b3 at that place. The strips will then be held elevated to the extent desirediand will act as the sides of a wagon. ,body to protect the load. When these stri s are not needed, they will lie .flat upon tfie canvas support or be folded to take up less space thereon, and the, arms b3 b3 will be folded and the sleeves turned to cause the arms to fall below the frame, as seen in Figs. l and 8. W hen it is desired to hold the body of the patient or some part of the same from the possibility of a material degree of movement I provide the following means. At one end the corners are strengthened by an additional thickness 'of canvas or vother material, and to these corners are secured straps B so that such straps may be placed under the arms of the patient and secured by buckles or 'other means. When so secured each strap forms a loop as shown in Fig-12. These f stra s are preferably provided withrounded pad ed parts bx to engage the armpits of the patient and these pads may be made movableu on the strap by having loops on the ends o the same through which the straps B pass.

At a convenient point to embrace the body of the patient to a greater or less extent between the shoulders and hips, a stout piece of 'canvas or other material B2 is secured to the These bands are shorter and are made to re.

ceive the arms of thepatient. Two other such bands B* B4 are rovided at the proper places for the legs of tiie patient. By means of these bands the body of the patient can be secured and one or more limbs can be held in the position desired. When not needed, such bands can beopened upon the bottom canvas and will not be materially in the way of using the litter when their use is not desired. i

It is often desired to protect the patient from rain oi the direct rays of the sun. To accomplish this I provide a canopy' I composed of two rigid side frames connected by ]ointed bars ii at the ends. The joints in bars it are such as to permit these bars to fold inwardly in the horizontal plane of the top bars of the side frames. The lower barszi at each end are provided with s ring clips i i.y which canv be forced uponA t e/bars or rods A A just inside of the sleeves afi. A means for ri idly securing the frame of the canopy to t' e litter may be employed in place of the spring clips if desired. This vcanopy frame is provided with a water proof iis orugas .sage-nf nir therntyongn mrt'prsntthearl- I nission ni :flies 'nr Vother insects. cover these #partum-2s sides, I provide winter prooi hops Yl that can be lovred to protect the Vinterior oith'elitter from vdriving rain, but which can be rolled :up and secured or be merely'thrown'upon.gthetop, see Fig. 8, as maybe deemed best. Nhen the canopy is not in :use b bending the Yc nd pieces inward the sides Will-be folded together and occupy but little space. In order that .the top may not sag and so ,assume a holloived condition which would .retain the rain falling upon it,

I may provide the longitudinally extending' b ar I2.. Thisbar has one end rigidly secured in asocket t2 pivotally secured tothe top .end piece at one end oi the cano y, andat the other end' passes freely'throng a corresponding socket is on the end piece at the other end oi the cano y. In folding the .rod or bar will -slip-throu socket t3. As -this bar is placed abone .the end pieces and .beneath the covering 'It serves to give the covering the .semblanco ofa roof-so that it prevents rain v-irom accumulating upon it.

' In order to provide means wherebyzindividual ambulancesV maybe connected 'when desired, each end of .the stretcher trame is provided `with fa coupling piece. 'These yare shown :at YJ IJ. Each ci' these couplers or coupling :pieces l.consists Aof .a sleeve loosely mounted on the end -piece oi the stretcher frame. .These sleeves yor collars are held in position by two pins, one .on each side and each is provided with twoshoulders which eng fesaid pins when the col-laris turnedu war y on'the outside ,of the hame imtilt e coupling portionscomerto a horizontalposi-- tion. The coupling portions of the-coupler J consist of two ears g77" ashort .distance apart .extending outwardly from .the sleeve or collar. Ihocoupling part v.of the .coupler J is an :ear-'or tongue .7'2 extending Afrom the collar. y

To connect two .of the ambulances, the

tongues i2 of one ambulance is inserted be tween the ears y" 7" of lanother and secured together by a pin js. This pin is secured .to one ofthe coupling parts by a short chain to prevent it brom becoming displaced. As the coupling pieces are held by the pins from passing a horizontal position, two ambuances thus connected Will be maintained in proper position for transportation.

I may prefer to havel the mosquito or insect netting made in sections cap able of being inserted between the upright rods forming the side trames of the cano y. These will be provided at one side Wit two biurcated clips 7c, while on the op osite side will be two ivoted slips k. Eac of the outer memhers of the clips k Will have the outwardly projecting lug 7a2 by which the clins can be turned into a vertical osition. his construction is shown in ig. 10, which shows .halt of :one of .said

' Thesessectio'ns are placedinposition by tinningthe-clips 1r intjoa veiticalposition. The clips fat'the opposite side ofthe section are then made to engage one of the uprights. The other side of thesection is pressed `into -a lilize relativepositi'onandthe clips lc turned downward to engage the-.upright at that side of thel section. .A small pin k3 on the screen prevents the clips from fallin-g below a horizontal position.

lhen it is desired to use the frame A and its supporting bottom as a stretcher, this ycan :be done by removing the bolts c from each of the clamps and the clamps removed from the frame. vIn this case, the stretcher is freed from all `parts connected with the wheels so that in carrying the stretcher no weight will be carried, other than the weight of the. frame.

T-he canopy)T can be used with the stretcher .or lremoved therefrom as desired.

I propose to attach to one of' the bars A', a box AX which may be used to hold bandages and other :parts .of a Uiirst-aid-to-the-injured outfit.

lNhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. A Ywheeled vehicle comprising a litter or stretcher, a :two wheel construction for .supporting and .transporting 'the same, and .deg :supports -for the said litter or stretcher, saiddevice including means tor securing the 'Wheeled construction to the said stretcher :and .entirely removing it theretrom, said means-also .connectin the leg supports to or disconnecting vthem rom the said litter or lstretcliersubstantially as described.

" \12.Y'.A. wheeled vehicle comprising a stretcher iframe, a frame carrying two wheels and means' for attaching and detaching said heel'irameto'the said stretcher frame, said V'Wheel supporting frame containing means zthat will ermit the same to swing towards the stretc er trame to lower the stretcher trarne, substantially as described.

. 3. A wheeled vehicle, comprising a stretcher, a frame carrying two wheels, means for attaching said wheels and frame tothe said stretcher to support .and trans- .portlthe same, .and detaching them there from, said Wheel carrying frame being also .provided with legs to support the stretcher.

.-.and means .tor .transferring the weight of the diilerent positions, and supporting legs for said stretcher, all of said means being connected with said clamps and attached to or detached from said stretcher frame by saidv clamps, substantially as described.

7. The combination with a stretcher frame, of two wheels and clamps for securing said wheels to said frame, the construction also including an axle for said Wheels, a pair of rigid arms and a pair of jointed arms connecting said axle with said clamps, substantially as described.

8. The combination with a stretcher frame, of an axle and wheels, clamps for attaching said wheels to said frame, a pair of rigid arms and a pair oi 'ointed arms connecting said axle and said clamps, and means ior bending or flexing said jointed arms, said wheels and other parts being connected to and carried b said clamps, and attachable to or detachable from said frame by attaching or detaching said clamps, substantially as described.

, 9. The combination with a stretcher frame,

of an axle and a pair of wheels, clamps and connections uniting them to said axle, means for causing the -axle and wheels to occupy positions at diilerent distances from the said stretcher frame, a pair of pivoted legs or supports on each side of the axle, springs Jfor moving said legs outward to a vertical position, and ameans connecting the legs on one side of the axle 'with those on the other side, and passing beneath the axle so that the rising of the axle permits'the springs to move the legs or supports outward and the downward movement of the -axle draws them inward from the vertical or operative position, substantially as described.

10. The combination with a stretcher frame, of an axle and wheels, clamps and connections for securing said wheels to said frame, means for positioning the axle at two' diilerent distances from the said frame, a pair of legs or supports one on each side of the axle, springs for moving the said legs or supports to a vertical position, links connecting the pairs of legs or sup orts, said links passin eneath the said ax e and having a pivota connection or joint near the axle, substantially as described.'

11. The combination withl a stretcher frame, of an axle and wheels, clamps for attaching said wheels and axle to said frame, a pair of rigid arms connecting said axle to two of said clamps, a pair of jointed arms connecting it to other clamps, and the levers for bending the joints of the jointed arms, substantially as described.

12. The combination with a stretcher frame, of an axle and wheels, clamps for attaching said parts to the said frame, a pair of rigid arms between said axle and two of said clamps, a pair of jointed arms between the axle and other clamps, and levers for bending the jointed arms, said levers being connected to a shaft common to both to insure the simultaneous action of both by force applied to one, substantially as described.

13. The combination with the stretcher frame and the supporting bottom thereof, ci the narrow flexible strips separate l rom the bottom but extending along the sides and ends ofthe bottom and the arms for supporting the inner edge of said strips above the plane of the bottom, substantially as described.

14. The combination with the stretcher frame, of a canopy composed of rigid side frames, and hinged connecting bars, a waterproof covering and a central longitudinal sup ort for the water-proof cover and means for liolding said support on said connecting bars midway between the side Jframes, substantiallyas described.

15. r[he combination with the stretcher frame, of a canopy comprising side frames and folding connecting bars,' a water-proof cover and av central longitudinal support for said cover, said support having at one end a rigid and at the other end a sliding connection with the connecting bars, substantially as described.

` In testimony whereof I alix mjy-signature, l

in the presence of two witnesses. l

IRONE H. RUSSELL.

Witnesses:

F. H. HUBBARD, J. K. Moons. 

